Check writing interpreter



Filed April 6. 1949 Dec. 8, 1953 E. BUHLER WRITING INTERPRETER 2,661,684CHECK 15 Sheeds-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 06m 51mm ATTORNEY Dec. 8, 1953 E.BUHLER CHECK WRITING INTERPRETER 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 6; 1949ATT ORNEY Dec. 8, 1953 E. BUHLER CHECK WRITING INTERPRETER 15Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 6, 1949 BY Qwcmt ATTORNEY Dec. 8, 1953 E.BUHLER cmzcx WRITING INTERPRETER 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 6, 1949ATTORNEY Dec. 8, 1953 E. BUHLER CHECK WRITING INTERPRETER 15Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 6, 1949 INVENTOR fl/GEN 50/1151? BY I:ATTORNEY Dec. 8, 1953 E. BUHLER CHECK WRITING INTERPRETER l5Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 6. 1949 INVENTOR I EUGEN fill/17H? BY w xcmtgATTORNEY Dec. 8, 1953 I E. BUHLER CHECKWRITING INTERPRETER l5Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed April 6. 1949 INVENTOR [065V Bl/HLER WQfi-whATTORNEY Dec. 8, 1953 E. BUHLER CHECK WRITING INTERPRETER Filed April 6.1949 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 k g 5 NR Dec. 8, 1953 E. BUHLER 2,661,684

CHECK WRITING INTERPRETER Filed April 6, 1949 15 Sheet s-She et 9 mw NDec. 8, 1953 E. BUHLER CHECK WRITING INTERPRETER l5 Sheets-Sheet 10Filed April 6. 1949 INVENTOR I/6E/V Bl/HLER RQV Q ATTORNEY 5 w A 4w K4[4.

-HF L W Dec. 8, 1953 E. BUHLER CHECK WRITING INTERPRETER l5 Sheets-Sheet11 Filed April 6. 1949 R c am n mW c w W 0 mm n w A 5 9 Dec. 8, 1953 E.BUHLER 2,561,684

CHECK WRITING INTERPRETER Filed April 6, 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet 12INVENTOR [UM/V BUHZER ATTO R N EY Dec. 8, 1953 E. BUHLER CHECK WRITINGINTERPRETER 15 Sheets-Sheet 13 E Filed April 6. 1949 #5 M m p u RM Y mw1% mm cR ww L M7 M60 L P F QL Dec. 8, 1953 E BUHLER 2,661,684

CHECK WRITING INTERPRETER Filed April 6, 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet 14 IINVENTOF;

5 I [l/GUV 50mm ATTORNEY Dec. 8, 1953 BUHLER 2,661,684

CHECK WRITING INTERPRETER Filed April 6,1949 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 I l: r5/1411 (r p/r010 mAru/r/rmamzr 576/ {is m F? L- J fi h r 1 INVENTOR[060V 5019MB Q can A ORNEY Patented ee. 8, 1953 2,661,684 CHECK WRITINGINTERPRETER Eugen Buhler, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., assignor to InternationalBusiness Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork 7 Application April 6, 1949, Serial No. 85,892

15 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for printing the required data uponcards to form checks, and more particularly to machines for preparingchecks upon which data is printed in response to impulses received fromdevices sensing perforations in the checks.

To this end there is provided means for feeding perforated cards one ata time past sensing devices to a position at one side of a plurality ofprinting elements from which data is to be printed. Each of the cards isstopped in its printing position while hammers are operated to force thecard against the printing elements, and then the card is fed to anejector which delivers it to a receiving hopper. Some of the printingelements may be adjusted manually before the machine is started, forprinting the signature, the date, the object for which the check isdrawn, and any other information that may be desired.

Other printing elements are adjusted by means 1 operating in response toelectrical impulses received from the sensing devices as the cards aremoved to their printing position. For printing the cash amount on thecheck, there are provided two sets or" print wheels, one set havingelements for printing the value in small type and the other set havingelements for printing in large type. The wheels of each set for printingthe dollar values are provided with elements which may be positioned toprint any one of the digits 0 to 9 or an asterisk. The adjusting of eachof the wheels to locate its elements in any one of these positions isaccomplished by means operating in response to an impulse received as aresult of a hole punched in the cards at only one of nine points. t;

The controls for the two sets of printing wheels are tied togetherelectrically so as to assure that the amounts printed are the sameprovided the cash total of the checks printed as indicated by anaccumulator is equal to a predetermined total. In order to obtain achecking of the holes in the cards representing the cash amount,different sets of devices are arranged to sense the holes at differentpoints in its path of travel, and the adjustment of one set of cashprint wheels is made dependent upon each set of sensing devices.

In addition to the cash print wheels there may be provided other wheelshaving elements for printing the check number, the voucher number and acontrol number. These wheels are adjustable by means operating either inresponse to impulses received from devices sensing holes in differentportions of the cards or in response to impulses received from a devicewhich is adjustable to transmit any desired combination of impulses.

Separate hammers may be provided for effecting a printing of thedifferent items. If it is desired that some of the items be left ofi thecheck, the corresponding hammers may be locked out by manuallyadjustable locking means. The machine may be used to print all itemsexcept the signature by looking out the hammer for the latter, or it maybe used only for signing checks by looking out all hammers except thatfor the signature. If desired, the machine may be operated with all ofits hammers locked out while checks are passed through to obtain a prooftotal of the cash values from an accumulator which operates inconjunction with the printing wheels.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved machine forprinting data on cards to form checks.

Another object is to provide an improved check writing machine which isadjustable to print simultaneously all or any part or" the itemsrequired on a card to form a check.

Still another object is to provide'in a check writing machine improvedmeans for adjusting a printing element in any one of eleven positions inresponse to an impulse received as the result of a hole formed in a cardat only one of nine difierent points.

Yet another object is to provide an improved check writing machinehaving two sets ofwheels for printing the cash value on the check, andhaving means for adjusting the wheels in response to impulses receivedfrom different sets of devices which sense perforations in the card atdifferent points in its travel.

Still another object is to provide means which are dependent upon theoperation of controls for one set of cash printing wheels and whichoperate to control the adjustment of a second set of cash printingwheels so as to assure that the amounts printed by each are the same.

Another object is to provide adjustable means for printing numbers (suchas a check number, a voucher number and a control number) on a card, andadjusting said means by impulses received either from devices sensingperforations in the card or from a manually regulated transmittingdevice.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention andthe best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings: 7 Fig. 1 is a plan View, with parts broken away tofacilitate illustration, showing the card feeding mechanism and theprinting hammers with their operating mechanisms.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the check writing machine taken at theright-hand side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view taken at the right-hand side ofFig. 1 and showing the clutch mechanisms for controlling the feeding andprinting operations.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line d& ofFig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the machine taken from the left-handside of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the printing wheels and operatingmechanisms therefor.

Figs. '7, 8, 9 and 10 are vertical sectional views taken on the planesof lines 'ii, 8-8, 9-9, and l--l0 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view showing the wheels for printing the cashvalue in large type, partly in elevation and partly in section, andshowing one of the control number print wheels in section.

Fig. 12 is a view taken on the plane of the line l2l 2 of Fig. 11 withparts broken away to facilitate illustration.

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view showing the ribbon feed mechanism.

Figs. 14a, 14b and 140, taken together and arranged vertically in theorder named, constitute a wiring diagram for the machine.

Fig. 15 is a time chart of the cam controlled contacts.

Gard feed mechanism In the illustrative embodiment of the inventionthere is provided, as shown in Fig. 4, a picker It which is adapted tomove cards one at a time from the bottom of a card stack in a feedhopper it through the usual throat to a pair of feed rolls l2, throughwhich they are advanced to succeeding pairs of feed rolls i3, M, 15 and16. An ejector I8 picks up the cards after they pass the feed rolls itand carries them to a receiving hopper 263 where they are deposited. Thepairs of feed rolls i2, i3, i8 and the upper feed roll i are mountedupon shafts which are journaled at their ends (see Fig. i) in sideplates 22 and 23 of an upper frame structure 2 5, which is pivotallysupported at one end by a shaft 25 journaled in the side plates 28 and21 of a lower frame structure 23. The upper feed roll M is mounted on astub shaft 29 journaled in the side plate 23, and a corresponding rollIt at the opposite side of the machine is mounted on a stub shaft 25journaled in the side plate 22. The lower feed rolls l4 and I5 arerotatably carried by levers 30 and 31 which are pivotally connected tothe side plate 2'1 of the lower frame structure and are urged by springs32 and 33 in a direction to hold the lower feed rolls in yieldableengagement with the upper feed rolls. Suitable abutment pins areprovided, as shown, for limiting the movement of the levers by thesprings when the frame structure 24 is swung upwardly about the shaft25. Similar feed rolls are supported at the opposite side of the machineby levers which are pivotally connected to the side plate 26 of thelower frame structure. During the operation of the machine, the upperframe structure is locked, by suitable means not shown. in the positionof Fig. 4, but in the event that a card becomes damaged while passingthrough the machine, this structure may be rocked upwardly for removalof the card.

The ejector 18 comprises, as shown in Figs. 1

and i, a pair of wheels 35 fixed to the shaft 25 at points spaced fromeach other. Extending between the wheels are U-shaped members 3% whichare pivotally connected at their ends to the wheels at points 3?adjacent their peripheries. Fixed to each leg of the U-shaped membersare fingers 38 which extend across recesses 39 in the peripheries of thewheels and are normally held by springs iil in engagement with thewheels at the trailing edges of the recesses. Cam blocks ii areconnected to the U-shaped members and are adapted to engage a stationarypin 42 for swinging the members in a direction to move the fingers awayfrom the periphery of the wheel so that the leading edge of the cardsmay move under them as they are advanced from the feed rolls it. Afterthe edge of a card is moved under the fingers $8, the cam block 4i ridesoff the pin if so that the fingers operate to clamp the card betweenthemselves and the wheel so as to carry it to the receiving hopper. Asthe card approaches the hopper 26, the cam block engages a pin :3 tomove the fingers away from the wheel for releasing the card anddepositing it in the hopper when it engages a projecting lower plate 55.

A plate 36 is slidably received within the hopper and is provided witharms ll carrying rollers which are received in guideways 58 formed inthe side walls of the hopper for holding the plate in a positionperpendicular to the bottom plate 45. As the cards are deposited in thereceiving hopper, the plate as is moved along the bottom plate d5 untila projecting portion 50 carried by the plate engages a switch arm Eiifor opening a circuit and stopping the machine.

For driving the picker, the feed rolls and the ejector, there isprovided, as shown in Fig. 2, a motor fixed to the side of the lowerframe structure '23 and having a power shaft EE S which operates througha worm 55 to drive a worm gear 55 freely mounted upon a shaft 5?. Asshown in Fig. 3, a clutch plate 53 of a feed clutch mechanism isconnected to the gear 56 and is provided with a notch 59 which isadapted to receive a dog 363 plvotally connected to an arm 55 which isfixed to the shaft 5?. An armature latch 52 of a feed clutch magnet FCnormally engages the outer end of the arm 61 and a projecting portion ofthe dog 6:] for holding them in the positions shown in Fig. 3.

For driving the feed rolls, there is connected,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to the ends of the shafts carrying the feedrolls i2, i3 and it, n eshing gears (it, as and 65, respectively. Fixedto the shaft 5'5 is a gear '68 which drives an idler gear 59 meshingwith the gears 65 and 88 on the shafts of the upper feed rolls. Anotheridler gear it is journaled on a stub shaft ii supported by the sideplate of the upper frame structure and meshes with the gears 5 $5 on theshafts of the upper feed rolls l2 and 23. Connected to the shaftcarrying the upper feed roll it is a gear '13, and connected to the endsof the shafts carrying the pairs of feed rolls it are meshing gears it.Gear is and the upper one of the gears it are driven from the gear asthrough idler gears i5 and it.

When the feed clutch magnet is energized, the latch {32 releases the dog56 and the arm 5i so that the dog may be received in the notch 59 of theclutch plate and drive the shaft 5. in a counter-clockwise direction, asviewed in Figs. 2 and 3. The gear 83 then drives the gearsBt and fitthrough the idler gear 69, and the gears 64' are driven through theidler gear '58. The gears l3 and Hi on the feed rolls I5 and I6 aredriven at the same time through the idler gears I5 and It. In order todrive the feed roll I4 at the opposite side of the machine, there isprovided, as shown in Fig. 5, an idler gear I9 meshing with gears 65 and66 on the shafts carrying the feed rolls I3 and I4.

For oscillating the picker If), there is provided, as shown in Figs. 1and 5, an idler gear 89 driven by the gear 65 and meshing with a gear BIcarrying an eccentric pin 82 to which a link 83 is pivotally connected.The opposite end of the link is connected to an arm 84 fixed upon ashaft 85 to which there are connected, as shown in Fig. 4, arms 86operatively engaging the picker it for oscillating the latter.

In order to rotate the ejector wheels 35, there is connected to theshaft '25 a gear 88 meshing with a gear 89 which is fixed for rotationwith a gear at on a stub shaft'carried by the side plate 23 of the upperframe structure. Thegear 9i! meshes with the gear '55 and is driven bythe latter in a direction to eifect a counter-clockwise rotation of theejector wheels.

Printing mechanism Referring to Figs. 4 and 6, it will be noted that ashaft Its extends transversely of the machine and is journaled in thelower frame structure 23. print wheels, one set of wheels IIlI beingadapted to print a control number upon the card and the other set ofwheels I62 being adapted to print the cash value in large type upon thecard. Fixed to the shaft I96 is a gear I64 meshing with a gear Its fixedto a shaft IIlIi upon which there is mounted a set of print wheels I08for printing a voucher number upon the check. At the other end of theshaft Inc is a gear HI) meshing with gears III and I2 fixed to shafts H3and H4 respectively, journaled in the lower frame structure. Mountedupon the shaft H3 is a set of wheels lit for printing the cash value ofthe Mounted upon this shaft are two sets of check in small type, andmounted upon the shaft tilt is a set of print wheels number of thecheck.

In Fig. 11 the print wheels IIlI are shown mounted upon a sleeve I20which is fixed for rotation with the shaft Iilii by any suitable means,not shown. Formed in the sleeve I20 is a longitudinal slot I2I andperipheral grooves I22, the grooves being located so that one is at aside of each of the wheels. Annular plates I23 are slidably mounted uponthe sleeve 20, and each is provided with an inwardly projecting portionI2 which is movable in the longitudinal slot iii as the plate isadjusted along the sleeve to a point above one of the grooves. Theportion I24 may then be moved into the groove I22 by rotating the plate,for locking the latter in place. At each side of the wheel Iiil is afiber ring I26, and arranged between one of these rings and the platefit is an annular member I21 of spring steel engageable at its outeredge with a projecting ridge on the wheel adjacent its periphery. Whenthe parts are assembled, the member if? is held in a flexed position, asshown, to produce a frictional engagement between the parts forresisting rotation of the wheel IIlI relative to the shaft IIlii. Eachwheel of the sets IE8, H6 and H8 is mounted in a similar manner so thatthey are rotated with their respective shafts unless held againstrotation by means which will be shortly described.

Each of the large print wheels I02 is mounted upon a collar I3II whichis keyed at I3I to the H8 for printing the,

shaft I 00, as shown in Fig. 12. Extending radially through the collarI38 are openings I32 containing springs I33 which act between the shaftI00 and friction shoes I34 for holding the latter in frictionalengagement with the inner periphery of the wheel I82. At one side ofeach of the wheels is an annular plate I35 fixed to the shaft I by anysuitable means and having a projecting portion I31 (Fig. 12) whichextends into an arcuate groove 438 formed in the inner periphery of theprint wheel. When the wheel is in its home position, as shown in Fig.12, the projecting portion I37 engages one end of the groove I38. If theprint wheel is held against rotation while the shaft I Iii) rotates in acounterclockwise direction, the projecting portion I31 moves forwardlyinto the groove I 38. In the event that the print wheel fails to rotatewith the shaft when the latter is turned in a clockwise direction, theprojecting portion I37 engages the end of the groove I33 and returns thewheel to its home position.

Drive mechanism for print wheels During the operation of the machine,the shaft Hill is oscillated so that the print wheels may be moved totheir various printing positions under the control of means shortly tobe described and then returned again to their home positions. Foroscillating the shaft I there is provided, as shown in Fig. 4, a gearsector I 45 pivotally mounted at its upon the lower frame structure andmeshing with a gear I41 fixed to the shaft Int. Extending from the gearsector are forked arms I49, I55) carrying rollers which operativelyengage complementary cams QEI, I52 fixed to a shaft I 54. Mounted uponthe shaft I54 is a gear I56 which meshes with a gear I51 fixed to ashaft I58. Connected to the shaft I58, as shown in Fig. 3, is an arm I66carrying a dog Ifii which is adapted to be received within a notch I52formed in a clutch plate I63 freely mounted upon the shaft I58. Fixed tothe clutch plate I63 for rotation therewith is a worm gear IE5 meshingwith a worm i653 carried by the power shaft 54 of the motor 53. Anarmature latch I 68 is controlled by a printing clutch magnet PC and isadapted to engage the outer end of the arm I68 and a projecting portionof the log ISI for holding them normally in the positions shown in Fig.3. When the magnet PC for the printing clutch is energized, the armaturelatch let is operated to release the arm Itii and the dog iti so thatthe latter is received in the notch I62 of the clutch plate foreffecting a rotation of the shaft I53 in a counter-clockwise direction.As

the shaft I53 rotates, the gear It? drives the gear I56 and operates thecams I5I, I52 to effect an oscillating motion of the gear sector Hi5driving the gear it? and the shaft IIiiI.

Control mechanism for small time cash wheels and check: number printingwheels The Wheels IIt for printing the cash value of the check in smalltype, and the wheels III? for printing the check numbers, are provided,as shown in Fig. 7, with printing elements Iit along a portion of theirperipheries and teeth fit along an opposite portion of theirperipheries. The printing elements for the wheels I I t are adapted toprint any one of the significant digits 1 to 9, the 0 or an asterisk,while the elements for the wheel I I8 are adapted to print only thenumbers 1 to 9 and 0. The space between the 0 element and the #1 toothon the print Wheels H8 is left open so that no mark is made upon thecard 7. when this portion of the wheel is in the printing position.Arranged adjacent the wheels are stop pawls I18 and H9 pivotallysupported at $85 and I81, respectively, for engagement with the teeth116 to limit rotation of the wheels in a counter-clockwise direction.Formed :on each of the wheels is a projecting portion 164 which isengageable with the end of the pawl when the latter is held in itsretracted position so that the element printing the asterisk for thewheel 1 it or the open portion of the wheel il 18 are stopped in theirupper printing positions. The :stop .pawls I18 and H9 are urged towardthe teeth He by springs 18% and till, and projecting portions I38 andH39 on latch levers i913, i9! are .engageable with the pawls for holdingthe latter in their retracted positions against the action of thesprings. The latch lever 159 for the wheel HS shown in Fig. '7 isoperatively connected to the armature 1 95 of a small type wheel controlmagnet ST!, and the next adjacent "lever we is connected by a link 95 tothe armature 195 of another magnet STE. The other latch levers for thesmall type print wheels are connected to the armatures of magnets whichare staggered a similar manner to conserve space. The latch lever 19A isoperatively connected to the armature I98 of a check num b'er wheelcontrol magnet CKI, and the next adjacent lever tilt is connected by alink 2853 to the armature 1% of a similar control magnet CKZ. Themagnets for controlling the latch levers is! of the other wheels H8 arestaggered. in a similar manner.

When the magnets ST and CK are energize-i, the latch levers I98 and Hiare rocked in a counter-clockwise direction to release the pawls I78 and73 for engagement with the teeth ll? of the print wheels. To return thepawls to their retracted positions there are provided bail levers 254and 205 pivotally supported at 235 and 'lii'i and adapted to be movedinto engagement with the pawls for swinging the latter in acounterclockwise direction. A link 2&3 connects the levers 29 and 285for simultaneous movement,

and an arm Eli! on the lever 2% is engageable by a lever 2| I pivoted at252 anclcarrying a roller 2E3 which operatively engages acam 2 i fixedto the shaft {54.

The right-hand ends of the latch levers 190 are provided with projectingportions I90 which i are adapted to be engaged by latch members 2 it forholding them in their latching positions. If any one of the latch leversi 8!) is rocked to'unlatch its pawl 118 before its latch member Zitismoved over its portion lil, then the end of the latch member 2H5 engagesthe side of the portion H38 and is held out of its latching position.The latch levers lei are provided with similar projecting portions 353iwhich may be engaged by latch members 2!? for holding them in theirlatching positions. Movement of a latch lever ISI to its unlatchingposition while the latchmembers 25! are held retracted results in apositioning of the portion I 9 i for obstructing movement of its .latchmember 2!? in a latching direction. The latch members MG and 2|! arepivotally mounted .at 220 and are provided with projecting arms '221which are engageable by a bail 223 .for rocking them in a clockwisedirection against the action of springs 22s. The bail 223 is carried bya lever Z25 pivotally mounted at 22$.and carrying a roller '22"! whichoperatively engages a cam 228 fixed to the shaft 55s. A pin 236 is fixedto the lever 225 andis connected by aspring-23I to :astationary abutmentfor holding the roller against the cam 228. Extendin laterally from eachof the latch members 216 is a pin 23 which underlies, as shown in Fig.6, a projecting portion 235 on the latch member controlling the printwheel of the next lower denomination. The latch members 2!? have similarprojecting pins 238 underlying projecting portions 238 of adjacent latchmembers. It will be appreciated that by reason of this arrangement, aholding of one of the latch members 215 in its unlatching positionresults in the holding of all the latch members for Wheels of lowerdenomination in uniatching positions. The latch members for the wheelsof higher denomination, however, are free to move to latching positions.The pins 238 and projecting portions 23$ on the latch members 2i!provide a similar control of the members 2 l l.

The cam 228 is so shaped as to hold the bail 223 against the arms 22! ofthe latch members for holding the latter in their unlatohing positionsuntil the wheels Hi3 and H3 are rotated to positions just beyond thepoint where the pawls H8 and H8 may be unlatched to engage the #9 toothon their respective wheels. If one of the magnets ST is energized toeffect an operation of a pawl for engaging a tooth to stop its wheel 2it in a position for printing any one of the significant values 1 to 9,the latch lever its controlling such pawl engages the end of its latchmember 216 and holds the latter in its unlatchin position. As describedabove, all of the latch members 2&8 for the wheels of lower denominationare then held in unlatching positions while those for the wheels ofhigher denominations are free to move to latching positions. As soon asthe wheels lit are rotated beyond positions at which the #9 teeth may beengaged, the bail 223 is raised so that the latch members not held outmay move to their latching positions. An electric impulse is thendelivered to each of the magnets ST, as will be described later, forrocking the levers I93 not locked out and releasing their pawls to stopthe wheels H6 in their C- printing positions. The levers locked out bythe latch members 2 i 5 continue to hold theirpawls retracted so thatthe wheels 1 it rotate to positions for printing an asterisk. The latchlevers l9! are controlled in a similar manner for positioning the wheelsI It to print 0 or to present the open space beyond the 0 in printingposition. After all of the printing wheels have been adjusted in theirprinting positions and the printing operation has been completed, thelever 2H is operated by the .cam 2H3 to actuate the levers 25d and 265for retracting all of the pawls, and a bail 2&2 is operated to move thelatch levers E98 and 9! to positions for latching out the pawls iii? andH9. The bail 2G? is carried by a lever 2&4 pivoted at 228 and carrying aroller op ratively engaging a cam 2&6 on the shaft 154.

Attached to each of the stop p-awls W8 is a roller 238 controlling apair of contacts SPC which are connected in the control circuit of Figs.14a, 14b and lie, as will be described later. The contacts are held inopen positions as long as the pawl is in its retracted position, and areadapted to engage each other when the pawl is released to engage a toothon the wheel i Iii.

Control for large type cash wheels The wheels I02 for printing thedollar values in large type are provided, as shown in Figs. 8 and 12,with printing elements 266 which are adapted to print an asterisk or oneof the digits -0 to 9. When these wheels are in their home positions,the elements for printing the asterisk are in printing positions. Thewheels 162 for printing the cents value in large type are like thedollar wheels except that they have no asterisk printing element, andthe space normally ocou pied by this element is left open and is locatedin printing position at the beginning of each operating cycle. Each ofthe wheels for printing the dollars and cents is provided with teeth ZEIoccupying to 9 positions corresponding to the 0 to 9 positions of theprint elements. Arranged adjacent to each of the wheels 1232 is a pawl253 pivotally supported on a pin 28% and having an arm 258 engageable bya latch lever 26'! for holding it in its retracted position. The pivotpins 26s for the pawls of the dollar wheels are fixed to arcuate members2'59 slidably mounted in grooves formed in a plate 2' which isconnected, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, to blocks 212, 213 and 2 Hirotatably supported by the shaft 99, while the pivot pins for the centwheels are mounted upon a stationary portion of the lower framestructure. The movable mounting for the pivot pins is provided so thatthe dollar wheels may be positioned by mechanisms which will be shortlydescribed, to present the asterisk element in its printing position. Thestationary mounting 01 the pivot pins for the cent wheels permits apositioning of the latter only in. positions for printing 0 to 9. Thisis satisfactory since the cents value is insignficant, and the asteriskis printed by the dollar wheels of denominations higher than thatprinting the highest denomina tion of the check. value only to preventan increase in the value at a later date.

The blocks 2i3 and 2%; are adapted to be rocked about the shaft its by alinl: 2T6 connected between a projecting portion 2?? on the block 23'?and a lever 2'58 carrying rollers are and engaging complementary cams28! and 2&2 on the shaft Edd. When the block 2'32 is in the position ofFig. 8, the upper edge of the plate Zii engages a projecting portion 28on each of the arcuate members 278 and holds it retracted against theaction of a spring 285. The pawls controlling rotation of the dollarwheels are urged toward the teeth 25! by springs 286 connected to theends of the members 27b, and the pawls con trolling the cent wheels areconnected by springs 28'! to stationary abutments.

Pivotally supported by each of the pins 26 carried the arcuate membersEll) is a lever 259 connected to the pawl on the same pin by a spring2&9 which holds it normally in engagement with a shoulder 252 on astationary plate 293. Each of the levers 239 has a laterally projectingportion 23% positioned in line with a slot 295 in the plate 2&3 when thelever is held against the shoulder 252. Extending from the lever 289 isan arm 2% which is engageable by a projecting portion 29? on the pawlafter predetermined movement of the latter.

It will be noted that the depth of the 0 tooth is not as great as thatof the other teeth. Movement of a pawl into engagement with the 0 toothwill result in an engagement of the pawl portion 2%? with the arm butthe position of the latter will not be changed. Movement of the pawlinto engagement with any other tooth, however, will result in a swingingof the lever 239 to position its portion 29 over a solid part of theplate 293. The projecting portions 2% of adjacent levers overlap in sucha manner that a rocking of any lever 2833 to a position where itsportion 29% overlies a solid part of the plate results in a rocking ofall of the levers for the dollar wheels of lower denomination to similarpositions. The levers for the wheels of higher denomination, however,remain in positions with their portions 254 overlying the slot 295.

Each of the latch levers 26? is operatively connected by a link 2% to anarmature 2% of a magnet LT. When the magnet LT is energized, the latchlever Eel is rocked about its pivot to release the pawl 263 controlledthereby. Before any of the wheels I02 are rotated out of their homepositions shown in Fig. 8, all of the magnets LT for the wheels, otherthan those which are to print a significant figure, are energized, aswill lee-described in connection with the Wiring diagram. The pawls 2553for these wheels are immediately released so that they engage the 0teeth of their wheels when the latter are rotated to 0 printingpositions. The other wheels are rotated until. stopped by their pawls inpositions for printing significant figures, and the one of these wheelsprinting the figure of highest order in the cash value determines thesetting of the levers 289. The levers for the wheels of higher orderremain in positions with their portionsls l overlying the slot 285, andthe levers for the wheels or" lower order are positioned with theirportions 2% overlying a solid part of the plate 293.

After the wheels IE2 have been given an opportunity to rotate to their#9 positions, the blocks 2*52, 213 and 2N are rocked in a clockwisedirection. The arcuate members 270 having levers 289 in positions withtheir portions 2% overlying the slots 295, are then moved by theirsprings 285 in a direction to efiect a clockwise rotation of the printwheels. The movement of the arcuate members is limited by engagement ofthe ends of the pawls with an abutment portion 300 on the plate 293.This movement is sumcient to return the print wheels to positions forprinting an asterisk. The wheels for thearcuate members 2W which areheld against movement either print a G or someone of the significantfigures 1 to 9. Formed on each of the blocks 212, 213 and 274 is aprojecting portion Sill which is moved into printing position as theblocks are rocked in a clockwise direction. Fixed to these portions areelements for. printing Cts, Dollars and respectively. When the wheelshave all been set up and the printing operation is completed, the shafti its is rotated to return the wheels to their home positions, at whichtime a tooth 352 on each of the wheels engages the abutment portiontoil. After the i) tooth on each or the wheels passes the pawls 263 asthe wheels are returned to home positions, the pawl rides on a wheelportion 304 projecting outwardly beyond the ends of the teeth and ispositioned for latching by the levers 26?. As the pawls ride to the topor the portions 3%, the latch levers are rocked to their latchingpositions by a bail 335 which is carried by a lever tat pivoted at 397and having a roller 3% engaging a cam 3&9 on the shaft d. A pin 3?carried by the lever tilt is connected by a spring 3| I to a stationaryabutment for holding the roller 3&8 in engagement with the cam 359.

It will be noted that the cam 369 is provided with a projecting portionwhich rocks the lever ilt just before the print wheels reach their homepositions and permits a rocking in the opposite direction as soon as thewheels are advanced again from their home positions. In order to preventa rocking of the shaft 55% by the action of the roller see on theprojecting portion of the cam 369, a detent cam 24!? is connected to the

